At three thirty in the afternoon, the light in the Forest began to change subtly.
Although the sun still filtered through the leaves, the air became unusually heavy, and even the birdsong had thinned considerably. Zhou Chaochao was organizing supplies at the Campsite when she suddenly paused.
She looked up, squinting at the sky—not at the sun, but at the movement of the clouds.
Then she crouched, took a handful of soil and rubbed it between her fingers, picked up a fallen leaf, and carefully examined its moisture.
After these checks, she stood and surveyed the Western Zhou area.
The other groups were energetically competing to build shelters.
Red Team (Lin Weiwei, Zhao Lei, Zheng Kai):
Lin Weiwei was directing Zhao Lei and Zheng Kai: “Brother Zhao Lei, this branch needs to be thicker! Brother Zheng Kai, that vine over there can be used to secure it!”
Zhao Lei was sweating profusely while chopping branches, and Zheng Kai distractedly gathered vines. Their shelter had been set up on a small clearing and was currently just a crooked frame.
Live comments: [Weiwei’s directions are so professional!] [Why does Zheng Kai seem so absent-minded?]
Blue Team (Chen Yu, Su Qing):
Su Qing was perched on a low tree cutting branches efficiently: “Chen Yu, catch!”
Chen Yu fumbled to catch the branch, almost dropping it on his foot: “Slow down, Sister Su Qing!”
Their shelter was on a slope. Su Qing insisted, “High ground drains better,” and their progress was the fastest, with a basic structure already in place.
Live comments: [Su Qing is such a tomboy!] [Chen Yu is so adorable]
Green Team (Sun Xiaoya, Li Haoran):
Sun Xiaoya, still with a swollen ankle, sat on a rock giving directions: “Teacher Li, that one on the left seems a bit crooked…”
Li Haoran struggled to adjust the frame, his shirt soaked in sweat: “Xiaoya, should we move somewhere else? This spot seems low.”
Their shelter was by the creek, at the lowest point.
Live comments: [The veteran is working hard] [Sun Xiaoya’s foot is swollen, yet she persists]
Purple Team (Liu Yue, Wang Hao):
Liu Yue studied a map: “Wang Hao, don’t you think we should get more rainproof materials?”
Wang Hao tied vines as he spoke: “I think this spot is fine. It probably won’t get wet.”
Their shelter was under a large tree, believing it would shield them from rain.
Live comments: [This team is too laid-back] [Isn’t a big tree dangerous in a thunderstorm?]
Everyone was immersed in the competition, unaware of the subtle shift in weather—except Zhou Chaochao.
The camera shifted to the Yellow Team, and viewers were surprised to see that Zhou Chaochao was not busily building a shelter like the others. Instead, she was quickly dismantling the tent originally set at the edge of the Campsite.
Her movements were swift and precise—removing stakes, folding poles, collapsing the tent fabric. In under three minutes, a double tent was completely packed.
She then gathered other equipment: rolling up sleeping bags into backpacks, filling water bottles, checking entrenching tools and paracord, and even carefully covering the remaining fire embers with soil.
Throughout, she said not a word.
Beside her, Ji Huaizhou—the top-tier Film Emperor, normally pampered by all—was silently assisting.
Zhou Chaochao dismantled the tent; he held the corners. She packed sleeping bags; he handed her ropes. She buried the fire; he carried their bags steadily on his shoulders.
What shocked everyone most was that Ji Huaizhou didn’t ask “why” or “what for” even once, nor did he show a hint of doubt.
He simply focused on her actions, providing tools when needed, anticipating her needs with almost instinctive coordination.
It was a level of tacit understanding that didn’t resemble two-hour teammates—it looked like long-time comrades-in-arms.
Live comments erupted:
[??? What are they doing?][How will they survive without a shelter?][Film Emperor is so obedient?][Zhou Mumu bossing Film Emperor around so easily?][This scene… so strange yet harmonious?][Ji Huaizhou looking at Zhou Mumu… I’m obsessed!][Stop it, that’s our Emperor!]
Fans immediately split:
[Ji-Zhou CP locked! Key swallowed!][Random CP? No way!][Zhou Mumu, stay away from Film Emperor!][Don’t they look compatible?]
Others wondered:
[Why dismantle the tent?][All other teams are building, and they’re dismantling?][What trick is Zhou Mumu planning?]
At the site, other groups noticed Yellow Team’s unusual actions.
Lin Weiwei, directing Zhao Lei, saw Zhou Chaochao packing and mocked quietly: “Some people must know they can’t build a shelter, so they’re giving up?”
Her voice was low but picked up by the microphone.
Live comments:
[Weiwei is right! Zhou Mumu can’t build!][Pretending, but will ask the crew for help in the end!]
Zheng Kai, helping Red Team, frowned when he heard Lin Weiwei. He remembered Zhou Chaochao’s actions yesterday and instinctively knew she had a reason.
After a brief hesitation, he put down his tools and approached, trying to sound polite: “Mumu… why are you taking down the tent you just set up? Won’t it be uncomfortable tonight?”
Zhou Mumu continued her work, voice calm and assured: “This spot is too low. If it rains heavily later, it will flood. It’s unsafe to stay here.”
Lin Weiwei nearby scoffed: “Rain? The sky’s clear! Not a single cloud. Stop scaring everyone.”
She raised her voice deliberately: “If there were rain, the crew would have notified us. Are you just making excuses because you can’t build?”
Zhou Mumu glanced at her, expression neutral, simply explaining: “The Forest mountains have microclimates. Forecasts don’t always match local conditions. When it rains, it rains.”
She then resumed packing as if she already knew what would happen next.
Zheng Kai looked skyward, uncertain; indeed, the sky remained clear, leaving him unsure whom to believe.
Live comments jumped:
[Trying to act smart again, awkward][Don’t trust her, wait for the joke][Stop messing around, Zhou Mumu, annoying][Stay away from my Emperor, don’t drag the team][I want to see if it really rains][Just admit it’s hard to build, no need for excuses][Only I notice the chemistry between Film Emperor and her?][This quiet moment feels so warm][With Zheng Kai it’s silent but awkward, now it’s different]
Indeed, it was different.
With Zheng Kai, the silence was awkward and distant. Zhou Chaochao didn’t want to speak, and Zheng Kai did but dared not.
Now, the silence was harmonious, a mutual understanding—no words needed to know what the other would do.
Ji Huaizhou’s gaze remained on Zhou Chaochao—not staring, but watching her every movement with peripheral attention. She reached; he handed tools. She turned; he moved aside. She exerted effort; he assisted.
Live comments split further:
[Film Emperor… only sees Zhou Mumu?][He’s so attentive][Help! His gaze is so gentle][Ji Huaizhou, focus! That’s Zhou Mumu!][I don’t care, I ship it! Such silent chemistry!]*
Others questioned:
[Scripted, surely arranged by the crew][How could Film Emperor care so much for someone he just met?][Did Zhou Mumu cast a spell on him?]
Zhou Chaochao ignored all commentary. She finished packing, checked her equipment, and looked at Ji Huaizhou: “Let’s go.”
One word.
Ji Huaizhou nodded, hoisted his backpack, and took the heavier tool bag from her hands.
They walked in single file, leaving the Campsite toward the Forest’s depths.
Other teams froze.
Zheng Kai watched them walk side by side, an indescribable feeling rising in him.
Live comments speculated:
[Where are they going?][Did Zhou Mumu discover something?][Film Emperor just follows like that?]
Zhou Chaochao led Ji Huaizhou through the Forest for about twenty minutes. Her pace was fast, but she slowed over difficult terrain or extended a hand to help Ji Huaizhou—not as deliberate support, but a natural assist.
Ji Huaizhou complied without asking for direction or destination.
Eventually, they arrived at a cliff.
A natural fissure formed a semi-open cave, roughly three meters wide and five meters deep, with an overhanging rock at the top. The ground was flat and dry, covered in fine sand and fallen leaves.
“Here,” Zhou Chaochao said, setting down her backpack.
Ji Huaizhou surveyed the site, admiration in his eyes: “Good spot. Sheltered from wind and rain, elevated, with open views.”
Zhou Chaochao glanced at him—he could identify these advantages instantly, not an amateur.
She said nothing and began unpacking: “No tents yet. Clear this area of rocks and branches. If you don’t know how to set up a tent, leave it for now. Wait for me.”
From her bag, she produced a fish trap woven from grass vines and thin branches—crafted in her free time over the past two days, sturdy and skillful.
“I’m going fishing,” she said. “Stay here or nearby and collect dry wood. Make sure it’s completely dry.”
Ji Huaizhou nodded: “Okay.”
Zhou Chaochao added: “It might rain heavily. If I don’t return in time, start a fire yourself. Don’t wait for me.”
“Stay safe,” Ji Huaizhou said, watching her carefully.
Zhou Chaochao nodded, took the fish trap and a small knife, and headed toward the stream.
Ji Huaizhou stood at the cave’s entrance, following her with his gaze until she disappeared into the forest, his attention focused, concerned, with a faint… indefinable gentleness.
Live comments erupted:
[That gaze! I can’t handle it!][Ji Huaizhou, control your gaze!][Like a wife seeing her husband off…][Stop it, I’m jealous][Film Emperor is so smitten][Zhou Mumu must have put a spell on him]
Others observed:
[Isn’t Film Emperor too obedient?][He does whatever Zhou Mumu says][This isn’t typical of Ji Huaizhou]
Ji Huaizhou didn’t see the comments, and even if he did, he wouldn’t care. He started organizing the fissure as Zhou Chaochao instructed—methodical but thorough.
He removed rocks, swept aside branches, leveled the ground slightly, then began collecting dry wood nearby.
He obeyed her instructions meticulously, gathering branches already dried on the trees but not yet fallen.
He returned with a large bundle of dry wood, neatly stacking it in the cave. Checking the time, he realized Zhou Chaochao had been gone nearly an hour.
He moved to the cave entrance, looking in her departing direction, resembling someone awaiting a family member’s return.
Live comments wailed:
[Help! Film Emperor is trapped!][What magic does Zhou Mumu have?]