By the creek.
Zhou Chaochao was working quickly and efficiently.
She first set three fish traps in the calm parts of the creek, securing them with stones, and placed some crushed wild fruits inside as bait.
Then she walked along the creek bank, picking as she went—wild onions, water celery, and several edible fern shoots—all carefully placed into a temporary basket she had woven from grass and vine.
After finishing this, she did not immediately return but walked to a large tree, over ten meters tall, and looked up.
Comments flooded in:
[What is she doing?][She isn’t going to climb the tree, is she?]
Zhou Chaochao indeed intended to climb the tree.
She placed her basket beneath it, stretched her limbs, and began ascending. Her climbing method was unusual—not hugging the trunk and moving slowly, but using the tree’s bumps and branches with coordinated hands and feet, moving fluidly like a monkey. Within less than a minute, she reached the canopy.
Comments exploded:
[Wow, those skills!][Is she really an entertainer or a monkey?][Looks like a Special Forces soldier!][Climbing a tree?!][I think I’ve fallen for this female monkey…][Zhou Mumu, what other surprises are you hiding from us?]
Zhou Chaochao climbed high not to show off but to observe. She stood on a sturdy branch, shading her eyes with her hand, scanning the distance—checking cloud thickness, wind direction, and the shape of the distant ridge.
After about a minute, she had made her judgment: the rain wouldn’t be light and could come with strong winds.
Descending halfway, she suddenly noticed clusters of fuzzy brown fruits hanging on a branch seven or eight meters away—wild kiwifruit.
Her eyes brightened. Agilely, she jumped over and began picking. These wild kiwifruits were small but flavorful, an excellent source of vitamins.
Once her basket was full, she slid down from the tree gracefully, as light as a falling leaf.
Comments had gone numb:
[What can’t she do?][Is this really Zhou Mumu?][I’m more convinced she’s a Special Forces soldier now.]
Zhou Chaochao returned to the fish trap area and collected the catch—quite good, five or six palm-sized creek fish and a few small shrimp from three traps.
She cleaned the fish, dug a hole to bury the innards (to avoid attracting wild animals), rinsed them with water, and wrapped them in large leaves. Then she lifted the basket containing wild vegetables and kiwifruit and briskly walked back.
Her pace was fast, almost jogging.
Comments:
[Why is she in such a hurry?][Is it really going to rain?][I feel like I’m falling for her too…]
At the bottom of a cliff, in a mountain crevice.
Ji Huaizhou had neatly stacked dry wood and gathered some dry moss and dead grass for kindling. He was resting on a rock when he suddenly heard footsteps in the distance.
He immediately stood and looked toward the sound.
Zhou Chaochao appeared at the edge of the forest, walking quickly, carrying items, a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead.
“You’re back.” Ji Huaizhou greeted her and naturally took the fish and basket from her hands. “How was it?”
“The harvest was good,” Zhou Chaochao replied briefly, looking at the sky. “It’s going to rain. Hurry.”
The two returned to the crevice. Zhou Chaochao had just set down her things, barely catching her breath—
“Boom!”
A deep rumble of thunder echoed from afar.
Immediately, large raindrops fell without warning.
At first, just a few sparse drops tapped on the leaves. Then, almost instantly, the rain intensified, forming lines that became a curtain, drenching the entire forest in torrential rain.
The sound was deafening, drumming on ferns, moss, and leaf litter, releasing the scent of wet earth and plants. Water ran down the rock face, forming a waterfall at the cave entrance.
But in the mountain crevice, it remained dry, warm, and safe.
After a brief quiet, the comments went wild:
[Wow! It’s really pouring!][Zhou Mumu is amazing! How did she know?][She prepared over an hour in advance!][Her prediction ability is insane!][Ji Film Emperor followed her advice to collect firewood, now it’s useful!][The other teams are doomed…]
Indeed, the other teams were in chaos:
Comments erupted:
[Ahhh! It’s raining heavily!][Zhou Mumu is a jinx?][Poor Weiwei goddess! She’ll catch a cold!][Why didn’t the production warn them?][So sorry my wife suffers on this show!][Too miserable to watch.]
Red Team—
Their makeshift canopy couldn’t withstand the downpour; branches broke, waterproof sheets were blown away, rendering their shelter useless.
Lin Weiwei screamed, ducking under a tree. Her elaborate hairstyle was ruined by wind, wet strands stuck to her forehead. Her lightly applied base makeup streaked and smudged, concealing flaws poorly. Her sharp features looked flat and dull, eyebrows blurred slightly, leaving her disheveled and exhausted.
The cold rain soaked her completely, fabric clinging to her body, chilling her pale face. She shouted sharply:“What kind of weather is this! Who would expect this much rain! This lousy shelter is useless!”She kicked away branches, desperate, but there was nowhere safe to stand.
Blue Team—
The campsite on a slope had become a rushing stream, muddy water washing away all collected leaves, dry grass, and small branches. The shelter frame shook in the current. Su Qing and Chen Yu were drenched, lips purple, struggling to secure the frame, but the more they tried, the worse it became. Just-grabbed ropes slipped from their hands. Standing in the mud, they couldn’t advance or retreat, finding no shelter.
Green Team—
The once-safe creek campsite saw water levels rise rapidly, covering ankles and soon calves. Mud softened and collapsed, making every step risky. Li Haoran had to carry a terrified Sun Xiaoya through the mud. Shoes caked with wet earth, every step was difficult; all their prior construction was ruined.
Purple Team—
Hiding under a tree was already dangerous. Thunder roared as lightning struck a thick branch above. “Crack!” A deafening snap sent sparks flying. Branch fragments grazed Liu Yue’s shoulder and crashed to the ground. Terrified, the team scrambled away, soaked, muddy, and shaking.
The west team’s split-screen showed chaos: wind, rain, mud, collapsing shelters, screaming, frantic fleeing.
Meanwhile, in the crevice, the yellow team remained dry and safe, forming a stark contrast.
Only the yellow team was unharmed.
Zhou Chaochao glanced at the rain outside, expression calm as if she had expected it. She began quickly setting up tents—not one, but two.
Ji Huaizhou did not idle; he retrieved a flint and the dry moss he had collected, skillfully starting a fire. Within minutes, flames rose, moss igniting first, then small branches added carefully.
By the time Zhou Chaochao finished the tents, the fire was strong. Its orange glow illuminated the crevice, dispelling the damp chill.
Zhou Chaochao took out the cleaned fish and a small iron pot—an item she had traded from the production team for a previous wild boar incident.
She filled the pot with rainwater, boiled it over the fire, then added the fish, wild onions, and a pinch of salt to make soup.
She also used branches to make simple racks, skewering the remaining fish and slowly roasting them over the fire.
Ji Huaizhou sat beside the fire, watching Zhou Chaochao work. The firelight softened her usually sharp lines. Her movements were skilled and methodical, as if cooking outdoors was the most ordinary task.
“Need my help?” he asked.
“No.” Zhou Chaochao did not look up. “Sit and rest.”
But she handed him a bamboo tube she had cut earlier and cleaned.
“Drink.” she said.
Ji Huaizhou took it; inside was boiled then cooled rainwater, faintly scented with bamboo. He sipped and smiled.“Tastes good.”
Zhou Chaochao glanced at him, silent, and returned to turning the roasting fish.
Soon, the aroma of fish soup filled the air; the roasted fish sizzled, golden and crisp.
Although the only seasoning was salt, it smelled exceptional.
Comments:
[So fragrant! I can almost smell it through the screen!][Zhou Mumu seems like a great cook!][Even just salt, Film Emperor still enjoys it so much!]
Zhou Chaochao first served a bowl of soup to Ji Huaizhou, along with a roasted fish.
He blew on the hot liquid and sipped carefully.
His eyes lit up.
The soup was fresh, the fish’s natural sweetness and wild onion aroma shining through; the salt highlighted the ingredients perfectly.
He took a bite of the roasted fish—crispy on the outside, tender inside, perfectly cooked.
“Delicious,” he said sincerely to Zhou Chaochao.
She nodded and served herself a bowl, sitting across the fire.
He quickly finished a fish, glancing at the remaining ones.
Zhou Chaochao noticed but said nothing, offering him another.
He accepted it, joy evident in his eyes, like a child receiving candy, eating with contentment.
Comments:
[Film Emperor bribed by one fish!][He’s easily pleased!][Zhou Mumu spoils him…][Such a good couple.]
They ate quietly. Zhou Chaochao buried the fish bones. Ji Huaizhou offered to help, but she waved him off.
The rain had lessened, now a steady moderate shower.
In the crevice, the fire crackled warmly.
Zhou Chaochao took some grass and twigs, beginning to weave a backpack basket with skilled, rapid hands.
Ji Huaizhou watched quietly, firelight flickering on their shadows.
After a long pause, he said softly,“You’re very skilled with your hands.”
Zhou Chaochao paused slightly, not looking up.“I learned. For survival, you have to do a lot yourself.”
“You’re really amazing…” He watched her closely, then asked,“Was it hard?”
She paused, then replied:“Used to it.”
Three simple words, yet behind them lay sweat and effort only she understood.
Ji Huaizhou did not ask further. He knew the meaning behind “used to it”—not effortless, but treated as routine.
“Her recovery—how is it?” he asked, changing the topic.
Zhou Chaochao finally looked at him. Firelight danced in her eyes, softening them.“Fine. She can eat and speak.”
“That’s good.” He spoke sincerely. “About her… I’m sorry. Though it’s not entirely our fault…”
“No need to apologize,” Zhou Chaochao interrupted. “She said it was her own problem. She also asked me to thank you for saving her.”
Ji Huaizhou shook his head.“That’s what I should do.”
They fell silent again, but the silence was comfortable, harmonious.
Rain drizzled, fire crackled.
Ji Huaizhou watched her deft fingers weave the grass, then murmured,“Weaving so finely, it must take concentration.”
“Not really. Practice makes perfect,” she said, continuing quickly. “Tomorrow we need more vegetables and firewood; a backpack will help.”
“You’ve already thought ahead for tomorrow.” He smiled gently, warmth in his gaze. “With you, there’s never a need to worry what comes next.”
Zhou Chaochao’s fingers paused, ear tips tinged with warmth. She deliberately focused back on her weaving.“Don’t always say useless things.”
“It’s not useless.” He was serious. “It’s the truth.”
Noticing her damp strands sticking to her face, he brushed them back lightly, carefully, with gentle warmth.“Hair wet, it could give you a headache.”
Zhou Chaochao stiffened slightly, then relaxed, lifting her eyes briefly. Firelight in her eyes softened, water-like.“I’m not that delicate.”
“Even the strongest get cold, tired, uncomfortable.” He insisted gently. “You always take care of others; someone should take care of you too.”
He retrieved a thin blanket from his backpack, soft and warm. Draping it over her shoulder, it carried his body heat, covering half of her.“Wrap up. Even near the fire, the cave is drafty.”
Zhou Chaochao glanced at the blanket, smelling the faint clean scent, like pine after rain. She did not remove it, only said softly,“What about you?”
“I’m close to the fire. I’m fine,” Ji Huaizhou replied, sitting across, eyes on her. “You sweat and then get wind, easy to catch cold.”
She no longer refused, weaving slower, softer.“Ji Huaizhou,” she called, using his full name seriously for the first time.
He immediately responded, a small light in his eyes.“I’m here.”
“You don’t have to do this,” she said, gaze clear. “I’m used to handling things alone. No need to accommodate me.”
“Not accommodating,” he said gently. “I just… don’t want to see you shoulder everything alone. You’re strong, but you don’t have to be alone all the time.”
His voice lowered, serious yet subtle:“From now on, here, I’m with you. You don’t need to handle everything alone.”
Zhou Chaochao’s chest stirred. The long-tensed nerves seemed gently untangled. She looked away at the flickering fire, voice soft, almost drowned by rain:“I understand.”
He noticed her discomfort with overly serious care and shifted topics, pointing to the wild kiwifruit nearby:“The ones you picked—can we eat them now? I haven’t tried.”
She returned to reality, took a few fuzzy kiwifruits, warmed them slightly by the fire, and handed him two.“Softer is sweeter. Now is fine too.”
He peeled one carefully; the flesh was sweet and slightly tart, aroma strong. He took a bite, eyes lighting up.“Much better than store-bought.”
He offered half to her. She hesitated, then took a small bite.
The sweet-sour juice spread on her tongue, bringing a subtle warmth beyond taste.
“Sweet?” he asked, eyes bright.
“Yes.” She nodded softly, voice clear.“Sweet.”
He smiled, eyes crinkling, like stars warmed by fire.“Then we’ll pick more. You find, I pick and carry.”
Zhou Chaochao glimpsed the sincerity in his eyes and faintly smiled, almost invisible, yet softening the scene.“Okay.”
The fire crackled, rain tapped the rocks.
No longer silent, the exchange flowed, warm, alive, harmonious.
Her shoulders were wrapped in his blanket, fruit flavor lingering, the fire stable, the rain constant, and a calm presence always caring for her.
Outside, the storm raged. Inside, the crevice felt like a secure home.
Comments:
[What an ethereal atmosphere…][He cares she’s cold…][MuZhou CP locked, I’ve swallowed the key][No words of love, yet it’s better than all love lines]