Half an hour later.
All the members of the Gu Group arrived at C City International Airport. They took the VIP access route to a shuttle bus, which brought them directly to a private plane chartered by the production team.
It only took Lin Yi ten minutes to go from resisting the blindfold to complete resignation. After she sat down in the cabin, she didn’t even react when a staff member told her to take it off. It wasn’t until the person next to her tugged on her blindfold that she heard, “Take it off.”
It was Xu Shuyan.
So annoying. Why am I sitting with her again?!
Ignoring her hairstyle, Lin Yi simply shoved the blindfold up onto her forehead without taking it off completely. Xu Shuyan asked, “Why not take it off?”
“We’ll have to put it back on after takeoff. It’s a hassle.” Lin Yi yawned. “I’m tired.”
On the way to the airport, the production team had already mic’d them up. Everything they said could be recorded, but it could be edited out in post-production, so they weren’t too concerned.
In the three-seater across the aisle, Zhou Shichen and Chen Yuan were flanking Yan Qi, currently “interrogating” her.
“This is a scam! Weren’t we supposed to go to a deserted island to relax?!”
“What are we even doing this episode? Did you pick up bad habits from guest-starring on another variety show?!”
“Captain, do you remember when we went fishing in the sea on that island, and I didn’t catch anything and even burned your fish? Can you really bear to go through that again?”
Yan Qi nodded slowly, then said, “That’s why you two are a team this time.”
Chen Yuan & Zhou Shichen: “???”
They both whipped their heads around to look across the aisle at Xu Shuyan and Lin Yi, who had heard the entire conversation. “…”
Lin Yi’s face was numb. “So I’m with Xu Shuyan?”
Yan Qi said, “Mhm.”
Zhou Shichen asked, “What about you?”
But Yan Qi was being deliberately mysterious. “Don’t be impatient. The director will explain everything. This episode is going to be a lot of fun, so look forward to it!”
The four members of the Gu Group: “…”
What do you do when you really want to throw your captain out the window?
Sensing the murderous intent, Yan Qi calmly leaned back, snapped her fingers, and said, “Director, they’re all ready.”
The director appeared out of nowhere, holding a handheld microphone and grinning widely. “Good evening, everyone! I bet you didn’t expect the new season of our group variety show to start so suddenly!”
The Gu Group: “Hehehehe.”
Yan Qi crossed her arms. “I did.”
The others: “…”
Of course you did, you’re the planner!!!
“Here’s the situation. This flight is a direct trip from C City to Green Origin Island. Although you’re all familiar with this island, it’s been a year since you were last here, and a lot has changed. We’ll be giving you brand-new maps shortly.”
“Unfortunately, because you’ll be completing missions, the information on the maps won’t be complete. We’ll talk more about that when you reach the mission points.”
“Now, for team assignments. The planner, Yan Qi, will not be participating. Lin Yi, Xu Shuyan, Chen Yuan, and Zhou Shichen, how do you think we should decide the teams in a fair and just manner?”
Yan Qi decided for them. “Let’s do a hand-pairing game. The first two rounds are free play. For the third round, Yuanyuan and Shichen will show palms up, and you two will show palms down.”
Lin Yi: “…”
Xu Shuyan: “…”
What a “fair and just” way to assign teams!
Zhou Shichen was eager to start. “Alright, let’s do it?”
The teams were decided.
The director asked, “Are the teams set?”
Lin Yi raised her hand and waved it. “Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan are a team!” She excitedly shook Xu Shuyan. “Xu Shuyan, we’re on vacation this time! After we land, let’s go shopping for clothes first!”
“Buy what?” Xu Shuyan sounded uninterested.
“You know, stuff to wear at the beach!” She imagined it blissfully. “I looked it up before. Green Origin Island is really well-developed now, thousands of times better than the deserted island we went to last time. We can just sunbathe on the beach and drink fruit juice. How does that sound?”
Xu Shuyan wanted to believe it, but after glancing at a smiling Yan Qi, she said, “I have a feeling it won’t be that simple.”
“We won’t reveal the specific mission just yet,” the director said. “Everyone, please take this time to rest. Once we land, you’ll split into your teams to start filming.”
The plane roared through the deep blue sky. Outside the cabin window, the galaxy shone brilliantly, visible the moment one reclined their seat.
“Believe it or not,” Lin Yi said, turning her head to look at Xu Shuyan lying beside her, “if the fans knew we were dragged off to film our group show overnight right after the concert, they’d definitely be cursing Sweet Melon Entertainment to go bankrupt.”
“They’re always going bankrupt anyway, so what’s one more charge?” Xu Shuyan reached out and pulled the blindfold from Lin Yi’s forehead down over her eyes. “Sleep.”
Lin Yi obediently closed her eyes.
The flight lasted two hours and forty minutes, crossing half the country. They arrived at Green Origin Island’s new airport at 12:30 in the morning. To maintain the mystery, they still had to wear blindfolds when disembarking.
At the same time, all the fans following the members of the Gu Group received a push notification: The user you follow, Thenotes-xxx, is now live. Tap to connect with her!
【???】
【In the middle of the night? Why the sudden livestream?】
【Huh? Why is the screen black? Xu Shuyan’s stream just ended.】
【Chen Yuan’s did too.】
【Holy crap! Xu Shuyan is in Lin Yi’s livestream! Where… are they? Why are they both blindfolded? What is Sweet Melon Entertainment up to?!】
【Looks like they’re at the beach? The setup is actually pretty romantic.】
【This reminds me of the gossip I just saw. It said the Gu Group went to film their variety show right after the concert. It can’t be true, can it?】
【This…】
【Wait, there’s sound in the livestream now!】
“Welcome, viewers, to the set of The Notes’ new season of their group variety show! It’s time to announce the first mission. Are you ready?!”
Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan said in unison, “Ready!”
【So dorky and cute, hahaha.】
【They’re still holding hands! She’s the only one who can make you feel safe!】
【It’s the middle of the night and Yan Zhi You Yi is shoving food in my mouth again, turning me into a fool who can only say ‘kswl’!】
“First, congratulations on becoming partners for this episode. You will be spending two days and two nights here. We have two backpacks. Inside, besides essential daily necessities, are an entrenching tool, a sleeping bag, a water bottle, compressed biscuits, a flashlight, a compass, lipstick, eyeshadow, and a cushion foundation. Each of you may choose two items. Please make your selection.”
【What is this? Wilderness survival?】
【Didn’t they do this last season? And it was Yan Zhi You Yi again. Boring!】
After a moment of silence, Lin Yi asked, “What shade is the lipstick?”
【???】
【I’m fucking dying of laughter.】
【Hahahahahahahahahaha!】
【Lin Yi! That’s our girl!】
【Xu Shuyan is speechless too, hahahahaha.】
Xu Shuyan was indeed speechless. “Why isn’t there any setting powder? It must be pretty hot on the island right now, right?”
【…?】
【This little couple is going to be the death of me, hahahaha.】
【Alright! So that’s what she was speechless about!】
【A perfect match.】
The production team was also: “…”
“Alright,” the production team said, “I should probably explain the rules to you both first.”
“This two-day, two-night mission will be livestreamed in its entirety and will take place completely outdoors in an undeveloped area. The phone you’re using for the stream currently has only fifty percent battery. Before the battery runs out, you two will need to find a charging point to replenish its power and your own supplies.”
“As for the information on the map, that will be filled in by the viewers watching the livestream. Every time a new viewer enters the stream, a The Notes light stick will be automatically issued in the gift section. When a certain number of light sticks have been accumulated, a new map area can be unlocked.”
“Now, please choose your backpack items.”
“…”
【This seems way more intense than last time!】
【A full livestream! Am I going to die from shipping them the whole time???】
【This season’s planner is awesome!】
【Xu Shuyan and Lin Yi are completely stunned, hahaha. Did they really think they were coming here for a vacation?】
【Shitty company! My daughter just got off stage from a concert and you dragged her to this godforsaken place to suffer without any rest! You have no heart!】
Xu Shuyan hesitated for a moment, then squeezed the hand she was holding. “I’ll choose the sleeping bag and the entrenching tool. You take the compass and the flashlight.”
Lin Yi paused for a second, then understood.
They could find food, and they could filter seawater for drinking. For wilderness survival, practical tools were the priority. She thought for a moment, then remembered something else. “I want makeup remover! I refuse to sleep with my makeup on!”
The production team: “…”
【These two are so smart! Ahhhh! Our Yan Zhi You Yi is a power couple!】
【Hahaha, an idol’s discipline: skincare management.】
Not only did the production team give them makeup remover, but they also threw in a box of face masks as a friendly gift. Then they had Xu Shuyan and Lin Yi take off their blindfolds and handed them the phone for the livestream. “Before we officially begin, you can say one thing to the planner, Yan Qi.”
Xu Shuyan picked up the backpack from the ground without looking up. “Can I ask a question?”
Director: “No.”
Xu Shuyan let out an “Oh.” “Then I have nothing to say.”
Lin Yi raised her hand. “I do! I do!”
The director handed a walkie-talkie to Lin Yi. “Go ahead.”
Lin Yi took the walkie-talkie, turned around, and faced the sea, the stars, and the moon.
She yelled, “Yan Qi! Screw you!!!”
