Chapter 118: A Free Bird (Group Show)
Ai Qingyuan had been about to continue summarizing his argument when Fu Wenze calmly spoke up, “He said he can do it.”
The director hesitated for a moment. “…Alright.”
Ai Qingyuan instantly deflated.
Xie Xizhao stuffed two sweet, juicy tangerine slices into his mouth as a form of comfort.
Lately, he had become obsessed with sugar tangerines and had been handing them out everywhere.
The director then turned to the others.
Zou Yi was the first to snap out of it and said, “I have no problem with it.”
Fu Wenze and Yun Pan followed suit, saying they were willing to give it a try.
That was just how boys at this age were. Their first reaction to the unknown was always fear, yet deep down, they all craved adventure. At this moment, the youngest among them, Yun Pan, actually seemed the most eager to dive in.
And so, the itinerary that had initially shocked everyone was finally settled.
Half an hour later, the vehicle pulled up at their lodging, and everyone stepped out one by one.
The moment they saw the place, their eyes lit up.
This was the second time TP’s production team had worked with them on the group variety show. The first season had good ratings, and with the second season, there were significantly more sponsors. More funding meant a more comfortable experience for both the production team and the cast.
To avoid unnecessary trouble this time, the production team had simply rented out an entire local inn.
It was a two-story wooden building.
The first floor housed a lobby and a tea room, while the second floor was for accommodations.
The inn consisted of three interconnected buildings forming a semi-enclosed structure, surrounded by vibrant flowers and various ethnic decorations. The layout centered around an open-air communal area, making the place look both exquisite and cozy.
In an instant, everyone completely forgot about their earlier ordeal.
The director smiled beside them and said, “So? I told you the lodging would meet your expectations, didn’t I?”
Everyone immediately put on their best-behaved act. “Thank you, Director! You’ve worked hard!”
Since the entire inn had been reserved for them, there was no need to worry about room shortages. Each person got their own room and picked one they liked before settling in. The rest of the day was spent resting in their respective rooms.
Xie Xizhao preferred peace and quiet, so he chose the room farthest inside.
Just as he was about to enter, he saw Fu Wenze stepping out of the room next door.
Fu Wenze had changed into a casual T-shirt and was now leaning against the doorframe, watching him struggle to drag his suitcase inside. A moment later, Xie Xizhao pulled something out of it—a… mini guitar?
Fu Wenze: “……”
“You only brought one suitcase,” he remarked. “And you still packed that thing?”
“What if I get inspired?” Xie Xizhao found the question odd. He cradled the guitar and tested the strings. “I saw you brought your laptop too.”
Lately, Fu Wenze had also started writing songs—not just lyrics, but melodies as well.
Or rather, ever since Xie Xizhao had an episode of low blood sugar, all TP members had quietly begun learning how to compose music. By now, aside from Fu Wenze, who already had some experience, even Zou Yi had gotten the hang of it.
In fact, their upcoming album featured a ballad written by Zou Yi himself.
Hearing Xie Xizhao’s response, Fu Wenze paused for two seconds. He seemed like he wanted to say something but held back in the end. Instead, he walked over and ruffled Xie Xizhao’s hair—hard.
Then, while Xie Xizhao stood there, utterly baffled, Fu Wenze took the guitar from him and set it up properly.
After finishing all this, he finally said, “Don’t overwork yourself.”
He hesitated for a moment before adding, “The sky won’t fall.”
This had become a common saying among the TP members over the years.
Xie Xizhao half-heartedly responded with a series of “mm-hm, mm-hm, mm-hm,” pretending to be obedient. “Got it, bro.”
Fu Wenze looked exasperated but didn’t bother arguing with him.
The two of them tidied up their rooms separately, then spent some time on the balcony enjoying the breeze. When it was time for dinner, they headed downstairs together.
Although the production team had been quite ruthless when it came to the challenges, they had indeed fulfilled all the initial requests.
They were staying in a boutique inn, and for food, they had been treated to local specialties for the past two days.
There was a wild mushroom hot pot with an old hen broth base, soft and fragrant rice noodles, and a variety of sweet and savory snacks. Thankfully, there were no budget-control games—if they wanted to shop, they shopped; if they wanted to buy something, they bought it.
Some picked up local specialties as gifts for their families. Those without family to buy for purchased gifts to use as giveaways for fans.
Originally, the rest period had been planned for just one day, but with the relaxed schedule, it was extended to two. During this time, all TP members got a rare chance to fully unwind. Of course, the cameras captured everything.
On the third day of filming, everyone gathered together.
The challenges officially began.
The first challenge: rainforest trekking.
This was the first task and also the easiest.
Since rainforest trekking was already a local attraction, for TP, it was essentially sightseeing while filming.
Before arriving, they had been notified to wear comfortable long-sleeved shirts and pants.
Everyone had mentally prepared for the trek. As the team leader, Zou Yi had even gone the extra mile, researching numerous guides the night before. He had also stuffed his backpack with mosquito repellent and other essentials.
However, no one expected that before they even started, TP would run into internal conflict.
The reason?
“I want to be in a group with Brother Xizhao,” Yun Pan said seriously. “I brought a lot of food and drinks, I can share with him.”
Ai Qingyuan scoffed. “You should keep them for yourself. The moment you see a pretty little butterfly, you’ll go chasing after it. Can you support him when he can’t walk anymore? Can you catch him in time if he’s about to fall? Can you offer him emotional comfort when he’s struggling to breathe?”
Yun Pan: “……”
Xie Xizhao: “……”
“Wait,” Xie Xizhao tried to interject. “Look, I don’t need—”
Emotional comfort? 🙂
Fu Wenze calmly said, “I can.”
Xie Xizhao: ?
Faced with his longtime rival, Ai Qingyuan was furious. “Like hell you can!”
Zou Yi cut in, “I can too. And also, can you guys stop arguing? Director, please cut this part out—”
The director and crew, meanwhile, were filming nonstop.
Their eyes were practically sparkling with excitement, just short of having “Wow, this is gold” written on their faces.
“Either way, Xizhao has to be in my group,” Fu Wenze declared, trying to settle things once and for all.
Ai Qingyuan glared. “Hey! Stop stealing my lines!”
At that moment, Yun Pan took a bold step forward, positioning himself in front of Xie Xizhao like a knight defending against an evil overlord stealing away his bride.
At twenty years old, the young man proved his determination through action.
Xie Xizhao was deeply moved.
Xie Xizhao grabbed both of them, one in each hand, and casually tossed them aside before calmly stating,
“I’ll go solo.”
The others: ?
They were about to protest when Xie Xizhao added in a slow, deliberate tone,
“Whoever pairs with me… I’ll write them a special high-note part for our next comeback.”
He paused and then emphasized, “A full segment.”
Silence.
No one said another word.
Everyone quietly drew lots for group assignments.
Xie Xizhao ended up paired with Yun Pan.
The young man happily ran over and latched onto his arm. With their group numbers assigned, they all followed behind the guide.
—
Before departure, they argued for quite a while.
In the end, Xie Xizhao was actually one of the few who didn’t find the journey too exhausting.
The route they were taking this time was longer and more remote compared to the usual one-day tour. Even with a guide leading the way, keeping up with the entire journey was still quite a challenge for those who lacked physical endurance.
At the beginning, everyone was full of enthusiasm.
Since the path was remote, the scenery was equally stunning.
At first, almost every time they came across a peculiar plant, the sound of excited exclamations from TP members—mainly Ai Qingyuan and Yun Pan—could be heard through the camera.
There were towering ancient trees so massive that it took more than a dozen people holding hands to encircle them, vibrantly colored Rafflesia flowers, and crystal-clear streams flowing gently. Almost every step they took led them to a sight they had never seen before in their lives.
As they walked, they chatted.
No one seemed to feel tired at first.
But as the journey stretched on, fewer and fewer people spoke.
That was when the importance of physical endurance became apparent.
Xie Xizhao had been working out with Fu Wenze for the past two years, significantly improving his fitness.
In contrast, Ai Qingyuan and Yun Pan struggled.
Especially Yun Pan.
As a child, he had poor nutrition due to inadequate food, leading to weak physical health. When he grew older, he developed a love for junk food but also worried about his weight, so his lung capacity was about half of Xie Xizhao’s.
Not long into the walk, Xie Xizhao could already hear him gasping for breath.
He slowed his pace, ignored any protests, took Yun Pan’s backpack with one hand, and used the other to capture a photo of a colorful butterfly perched on the tip of a leaf.
The butterfly fluttered its wings and disappeared into the depths of the dense forest.
Yet, for one fleeting moment in its life, it was forever frozen in Xie Xizhao’s phone.
Xie Xizhao saved the photo in a folder on his phone named “Inspiration.” When he turned his head, he saw Yun Pan looking a little embarrassed.
In a small voice, Yun Pan said, “…Brother, give me my backpack. I can carry it.”
Xie Xizhao teased him, “What happened to your promise to protect me just now?”
Then, he pinched Yun Pan’s flushed red cheek and said, “It’s fine. I’ll carry it for you a little longer. I’ll give it back when we take a break.”
On the other side, Zou Yi felt slightly awkward as he watched Fu Wenze take his backpack.
He murmured, “Actually, I—”
Before he could finish, Ai Qingyuan chimed in, “Oh, come on, Captain, don’t be so polite with Fu Wenze. Look at him—he’s got nowhere to put all those muscles to use. Carrying a bag won’t kill him.”
Zou Yi: “…”
Fu Wenze: “…”
Fu Wenze couldn’t be bothered to respond to Ai Qingyuan. Instead, he simply told Zou Yi, “It’s fine. I’ll carry it.”
He was a man of few words, but once he made a decision, there was no arguing with him.
So, Zou Yi just held onto his water bottle and silently followed behind him.
And like that, the five of them continued walking, taking in the sights as they went.
By the end, everyone had taken turns carrying the gear, walking and resting in intervals.
It wasn’t until the sun had set that they finally reached the end of the trail with their guide.
Under the moonlight, everyone—including the production crew—took a group photo with the eerie yet stunning rainforest behind them.
In the picture, a few young men who had reached the pinnacle of the idol industry looked dusty and disheveled, with none of their usual dazzling glow.
But the smiles on their faces were genuine, coming straight from the heart.
In the camera’s frame, Zou Yi gently rested an arm around Xie Xizhao’s shoulder. Both of them were smiling as a few flower petals drifted atop the stream behind them, spinning lightly with the current. Everything looked serene and beautiful.
*
After their time in the rainforest, the group took a well-deserved break for a few days.
During this period, Xie Xizhao, along with Fu Wenze and Zou Yi, roamed around the city, gathering inspiration. They collected quite a bit of material.
Zou Yi joked that at this rate, they might end up conceptualizing their 20th album ahead of time.
As soon as he said it, he paused for a moment and suddenly glanced at Xie Xizhao.
Xie Xizhao was busy jotting things down and didn’t notice the look. He replied naturally, “What about the 20th album? We’re already on our sixth—doesn’t seem that far off.”
Zou Yi hesitated for two seconds before sighing with a smile. “Don’t push yourself too hard, sweetheart.”
“We all worry about you.”
Xie Xizhao looked up at him, only to have his cheek pinched.
At twenty-four, as he matured, his image in the eyes of fans had only become more effortlessly captivating. That subtle yet commanding presence he carried had unknowingly awakened all sorts of protective instincts in people.
But only in front of those close to him—his family and his teammates—was he still that frail young man who had once woken up from the ICU, weak and vulnerable.
The pinch tickled a little, making Xie Xizhao laugh. “Come on, brother, don’t mess around.” Then, he lowered his head and continued writing.
That evening, they walked back together.
The river shimmered under the lights, and young men and women in traditional clothing were taking artistic photos by the water. For a brief moment, it felt like they had been transported back a thousand years.
Of course, what was meant to come would still come.
A few days later, they began their second activity—
Bungee jumping.
One of Ai Qingyuan’s greatest fears.
The night before the bungee jump, Ai Qingyuan was so anxious that he couldn’t sleep. In the end, he ran to Xie Xizhao’s room, desperate for comfort.
Xie Xizhao had been up late playing aeroplane chess with them the night before. By the time he returned to his room, he was utterly exhausted. When he heard the knock on the door, he groggily got up to open it—only to be suddenly pulled into a hug.
Startled, he almost grabbed his phone to call the police.
Just as he was about to dial, Ai Qingyuan clutched his hand with an expression full of sorrow and said in a grave tone:
“…Xizhao.”
Xie Xizhao said, “Wait a second.”
He suddenly remembered the hallway cameras and felt a headache coming on. “Can you at least consider our reputations…?”
There were no cameras inside the rooms.
But there were cameras in the hallway.
Xie Xizhao could only imagine how this scene would look if it were broadcasted.
Ai Qingyuan, however, was completely unbothered. “Come on, what’s wrong with a good brother sneaking into your bed in the middle of the night? That’s not the point here.”
Then, with a dramatic flair, he clutched Xie Xizhao’s hands even tighter, looking deep into his eyes with sincerity and despair.
“Xizhao, what should I do tomorrow?”
“I’m really scared,” he said, trembling.
Xie Xizhao: “…”
What else could he do?
The next day, with an expressionless face, he personally helped the instructor push Ai Qingyuan off the platform.
As Ai Qingyuan’s panicked screams echoed through the air, Xie Xizhao’s lingering irritation from being woken up the night before finally dissipated.
He felt completely refreshed.
Beside him, Fu Wenze was already geared up, standing at the edge of the platform.
Xie Xizhao glanced at him and asked, “Nervous?”
Fu Wenze shook his head. “No.”
“It just suddenly reminded me of when I first entered the talent show,” Fu Wenze said with a smile. “Back then, just like these past two days, every time I opened my eyes, I had to face challenges I couldn’t avoid—challenges where I had no idea what the outcome would be. It was kind of thrilling.”
In the blink of an eye, two years had passed.
Now, they stood at the peak of the industry.
It was hard to say whether that moment back then or this one now felt more like a dream.
Fu Wenze didn’t say much more. Soon, under the instructor’s guidance, he leaped off the platform. For a brief moment, the entire site fell into absolute silence.
Xie Xizhao lifted his head and gazed at the endless stretch of mountains in the distance, the clear sky reaching infinitely above them.
He took a deep breath and prepared to gear up.
Zou Yi was the last one to go.
He was always considerate. Even though Xie Xizhao said he was fine, Zou Yi instinctively didn’t want to leave him as the last one standing there alone. Xie Xizhao understood his intention and accepted the gesture.
Now, Zou Yi helped him adjust his equipment.
Then, he patted Xie Xizhao’s hand.
“Good luck,” he said.
Xie Xizhao smiled. “Got it.” Then, he closed his eyes.
The next second—
He felt like a bird soaring freely.
The fierce wind howled past him as he plunged downward, and for the first time, he had never felt his existence so vividly, so fiercely alive.
*
Although, after the bungee jump, every member of TP agreed that this variety show was absolutely inhumane, the production team, seeing them all alive and well, showed no mercy in their torment.
In the following days, TP continued tackling challenge after challenge, just as scheduled.
White-water rafting, extreme rapids, shooting.
Of course, there were also some activities that weren’t as thrilling. For instance, during the breaks between challenges, everyone went to an amusement park together. After two years, they once again heard Ai Qingyuan and Yun Pan’s high-pitched duet inside the haunted house.
Aside from that—
They also took on challenges in other areas.
For example—
Eating.
When five small dishes, each covered with an overturned bowl, were brought to the table, everyone looked utterly confused.
Just last night, they had walked across a high-altitude suspension bridge. Their legs were still shaky, and they were now blankly chewing on the dried fish their captain was feeding them. Seeing this mysterious setup before them, they didn’t feel excited—only wary.
Sure enough, the moment the director finished announcing the dish names, their faces went blank.
Ai Qingyuan couldn’t hold back anymore. “Director, we’re filming a group variety show, not some kind of human survival challenge, right?”
The director looked innocent. “These are all local delicacies. They’re highly nutritious.”
Yun Pan immediately grabbed Zou Yi’s sleeve and wailed loudly, “Captain, I don’t wanna eat bugs, wuwuwu…”
Zou Yi cleared his throat.
“…Panpan,” he said.
‘I don’t want to eat them either, little brother.’
At this point, seeing everyone’s pitiful expressions, the director finally regained a sliver of humanity. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Alright then.”
“Life and death are predestined. Fortune and fate are beyond our control,” he declared grandly. “Bring in the freshly baked flower pastries. Everyone will roll the dice to decide. The one lucky winner will be spared.”
The staff quickly brought over the fragrant, freshly baked pastries. But just as everyone eagerly stared at them, they swiftly covered them with lids.
What followed was a dazzling display of fake-outs and sleight-of-hand.
The TP members strained their eyes, trying their best to see through the staff member’s hand movements.
But judging by his sleight of hand, it was unclear if he had trained in magic before entering the entertainment industry. Either way, they saw nothing.
Just like that, the flower pastry was shuffled in with a bunch of bugs and grasshoppers.
Silence fell over the group.
Xie Xizhao quietly raised his hand. “Uh, I have a question.”
The director looked at him kindly. “Hmm?”
“Can I volunteer?” Xie Xizhao asked softly. “I mean, for the dice roll.”
Ten minutes later, Xie Xizhao was quietly chewing on the sweet and fragrant flower pastry, watching his teammates struggle to force high-protein delicacies into their mouths.
As their screams of “This has to be a conspiracy!” echoed around him, he subtly patted the small dice in his pocket.
Inside, the little thing spun around smugly.
After accompanying its owner through so many days, it had finally found its true purpose.
*
…And just like that—
Half a month flew by in the blink of an eye.
Soon, it was the last day of TP’s variety show recording.
