Chapter 51: An Unconventional Group Variety Show (1)
Xue Yi added, “You’re all specially invited guests, there will be contracts signed, and the payment is guaranteed to be in place. Also…”
At this point, Xue Yi deliberately paused for a few seconds, looked at Xiang Yueting and the others, and revealed a meaningful smile: “Let me quietly tell you this—many celebrities are willing to pay out of their own pocket to get into this live variety show.”
Upon hearing this, the trainees present were visibly shocked and murmured in disbelief.
“Is that information reliable?”
“Whether it’s true or not, if Teacher Xue is telling the truth, then the benefits for the top nine from the second performance are incredible!”
“I’m so jealous I could explode—why are there so many debut slots, yet not one more for me!”
[Sharp intake of breath—this production team is seriously loaded. Is there a way to decode this?]
[Not sure about decoding, but… is this the so-called ‘unconventional’ group variety show?]
[Hiss… a hit variety show that people are willing to pay to join… could it be that live variety show? Rumor has it that many artists who appear on it gain a ton of new fans.]
[Don’t tell me I’m the only one who can’t figure this out, sob sob sob]
Once everyone had speculated enough, Xue Yi finally said, “All I can say is, this information is absolutely authentic.”
His words stirred up another wave of envy from the crowd.
Xue Yi continued, “You’ve all worked hard recently. After discussion with the production team, we’ve decided that before the third public performance, the trainees remaining at the training camp will have three opportunities to go out. The production team will arrange transport, and all food, drinks, and entertainment expenses will be fully covered.”
Xue Yi’s gaze fell on the trainees who had been eliminated: “You all can also remain in the training camp for these three days. Any expenses for going out will also be covered by the production team.”
The time the trainees had spent living together wasn’t exactly short, but it wasn’t long either.
The production team considered that the days the trainees had spent training together might be something they would cherish, so they decided to fund a few days of relaxation for everyone.
“Really?!”
“Yay! Production team, I love you!”
“I declare this is the best production team I’ve ever worked with!”
“Signing up for this talent show was the decision I’ve least regretted!”
With the production team’s constant comforting and encouragement, the sadness of parting and elimination was softened. The trainees were even already discussing where to hang out in the coming days.
People have feelings, after all—the trainees could all see and appreciate the kindness from the production team. Although they joked about splurging on the production team, the actual places they chose weren’t expensive.
After the second performance’s rankings, many people had to leave. All they wanted was a simple meal together before they each went their separate ways.
[Ugh… this is making my nose sting with emotion.]
[Forget that—my eyes are peeing already, sob sob sob]
[Maybe this will be the last time they ever meet in this life. No matter what happens in the future, at this moment, they are all genuinely treating each other with sincerity. That kind of feeling really makes you want to cry.]
*
Three days later.
The top nine trainees from the second performance ranking, following the production team’s instructions, stood at the entrance of Training Camp gate 2 without bringing anything, waiting for the car to pick them up.
Xiang Yueting circled around Shen Xiu, rubbing his chin and muttering to himself.
It was clearly just a simple outfit—a gray T-shirt and gray sweatpants, paired with sneakers—but on Shen Xiu, because of his cold expression and commanding presence, along with his tall and well-built physique, it somehow gave off a unique and striking chilliness.
He was someone you just couldn’t take your eyes off.
Shen Xiu had already built up an immunity to Xiang Yueting’s unpredictable personality. He stood there emotionlessly, pretending not to see Xiang Yueting circling around him like a monkey in a zoo—an act he’d unfortunately become used to.
After all… who knew how many traps Xiang Yueting might dig for him once they made eye contact!
At 9:00 a.m., the production team’s vehicle pulled up in front of the nine trainees. The assistant director got out, list in hand, and began reading names.
“Trainees whose names are called, please get on the bus.”
“Shen Xiu, Shang Yu, Song Chengwang, Xiang Yueting, Mu Zhenchu, Ning Sinian, Zhuang Yi, Xia Wenhao, Jiang Yanxi.”
As the first name called, Shen Xiu wasted no time boarding, desperate to escape Xiang Yueting’s monkey-at-the-zoo gaze. He decisively chose the back corner seat.
Shang Yu was the second to get on and sat next to Shen Xiu.
Although they were headed to participate in another variety show, the production team also started a livestream.
To fit all nine trainees, the team had arranged an extended luxury vehicle with two seats per row.
After Xiang Yueting got on, he plopped himself down in the seat right in front of Shen Xiu. Song Chengwang gave Xiang Yueting a speechless glance, then sat in front of Shang Yu.
The rest of the trainees were used to Xiang Yueting’s childish antics and each found a seat without comment.
Once everyone had buckled their seatbelts, the vehicle departed.
[Aaaah it’s starting! The reveal is coming soon!]
[There are so many trending rumors that so-and-so is joining that super popular variety show—is it true or not?]
[Who knows? That agency always puts out fake news just to fight for spots. If they get it, great, it was “true.” If not, they blame it on someone else buying fake trending topics to smear them.]
[Please, please don’t let them show up—bad vibes, go away!]
As the vehicle pulled away, Shen Xiu stared at the back of Xiang Yueting’s head. Glancing at the person next to him—Shang Yu, who was just as quiet as he was—he felt secretly relieved to have “dodged a bullet.”
It wasn’t that Shen Xiu found Xiang Yueting annoying. He just worried that if Xiang Yueting kept talking, he wouldn’t know how to respond.
After all, Shen Xiu truly didn’t know how to make conversation. What worried him most was that his replies might be too brief, which could upset Xiang Yueting and lead to losing him as a friend.
Afraid of accidentally making eye contact with Shang Yu on his left, Shen Xiu turned to look out the window on his right.
Looking at the scenery—safest option!
But just as he turned to face the window, Xiang Yueting twisted around from the seat in front, his expression animated: “Shen Xiu, Shen Xiu, where do you think we’re going?”
Shen Xiu: “…We’ll find out when we get there.”
At that moment, Shen Xiu realized even the corner seat in the last row wasn’t safe—because… Xiang Yueting would turn around to talk.
Terrifying!
And to make things worse… his reply was terrible—might as well have said nothing at all!
“Ah, true, but I’m so curious! I couldn’t even sleep these past two nights from excitement. Shen Xiu, aren’t you curious?”
“Shen Xiu, it’s my first time on a variety show! And we even get paid—this is awesome!”
…
The entire trip to the airport was nerve-wracking for Shen Xiu. Every time he answered one of Xiang Yueting’s questions, he was afraid he’d sound too blunt and that Xiang Yueting would stop being friends with him.
[Hahaha Xiang Yueting really does talk a lot.]
[Even though Shen Xiu’s replies are cool and low-key, there’s not a hint of annoyance on his face. You can tell he truly sees Xiang Yueting as a friend.]
[Is it just me, or does it feel like a mature adult patiently answering a little kid’s endless questions? LOL]
Thankfully, once they boarded the plane, Shen Xiu was finally able to relax. Since the production team had booked seats that didn’t place them in the same row, and Xiang Yueting went right to sleep, Shen Xiu’s tightly wound nerves could finally rest.
…
At noon, the plane landed.
To avoid causing unnecessary crowds and affecting other travelers, the production team never revealed where the flight would land. They had even shut off the livestream before entering the airport, leaving curious fans practically clawing at their screens.
When Shen Xiu received the face mask and baseball cap handed out by the production staff, he was so touched he almost wanted to weld them directly onto his face and head.
Fully equipped, the nine of them exited the airport and got into the vehicles arranged by the production team.
Two massive off-road vehicles had been dispatched, and the nine trainees were split into two groups to leave the airport.
Shen Xiu moved quickly, claiming a seat in the very back row. Once inside, he noticed that everyone in the same vehicle was already taking off their caps and masks.
In that moment, Shen Xiu understood—if he insisted on keeping his mask and cap on inside the car, everyone would think he was a weirdo.
So, in order to fit in, he reluctantly removed the mask and cap, practically in tears, and handed them over to the staff like everyone else.
Once the off-road vehicles were on the road again, the two livestreams in each car resumed.
During the flight, almost everyone had been asleep. But now, sitting in the cars post-landing, everyone was full of energy.
It was around noon, and as they munched on the food provided by the production team, the group chatted excitedly.
But as they talked, the vehicles kept heading deeper into more remote areas, and the group’s excitement gradually cooled, replaced by an ominous feeling.
Jiang Yanxi muttered nervously, “This… isn’t looking too good.”
Xiang Yueting’s eyes widened. “Not just not good—this is kinda scary!”
The ride became increasingly bumpy. Even with their seatbelts on, everyone was being jostled around and couldn’t sit still.
The truth was, the off-road vehicles had long left the main roads—this wasn’t a proper road, nor was it a paved mountain path. It was little more than a patch of dirt, surrounded by thick weeds and bushes, clearly a place rarely visited.
Hearing the others’ concerns, Shen Xiu turned his head to look out the window. Watching the branches and tall grass brush past the glass with a swish swish, his expression remained calm—completely unfazed by the scene, as if he was already used to it.
Xia Wenhao simply asked the staff, “What kind of show needs us to go all the way into the mountains?”
Zhuang Yi added, “Can you at least tell us what we’re doing out here?”
The staff member smiled politely. “That’s confidential.”
When the vehicles started bumping along rough terrain and the surroundings became increasingly remote, Shang Yu had already begun to form a vague guess in his mind.
Song Chengwang muttered, “As expected, if there’s mischief to be made, it has to be your production team.”
Xiang Yueting, noticing how calm Shen Xiu and Shang Yu looked in the back row, scratched his head in confusion.
“You two… aren’t shocked at all?”
The production team had dragged them off to some remote wilderness, clearly up to something suspicious—weren’t they even a little nervous?
Shang Yu, who had already pieced together a theory, was too busy being speechless at Shi Buwen’s schemes to be surprised. “Not scared.”
After Shang Yu replied, Shen Xiu noticed Xiang Yueting’s gaze land on him too. He dryly added, “Yeah, not scared.”
As a kid, he’d often gone into the mountains to gather firewood and pick mushrooms. Staying in the mountains had always been more enjoyable than being in the village—what was there to be afraid of? The greenery outside and the fresh air even made him feel a sense of warmth and familiarity.
Xiang Yueting: “…Okay, you two are impressive.”
Judging by how unbothered they looked, they probably already guessed what was coming before they even left. No wonder they were so calm.
Shen Xiu didn’t quite understand why Xiang Yueting said he and Shang Yu were “impressive,” but he knew better than to ask. Asking would mean saying more… and that meant more talking.
[Look at Boss Xiu’s confident expression—he totally figured it out the moment the production team announced it!]
[It’s one thing to guess, but actually participating is another. Boss Xiu didn’t even look the slightest bit nervous after guessing what was going on. Could it be… like in those dramas, where some elite families make their kids undergo intense training? Maybe Boss Xiu has been through something like that—so even now, with the car shaking like it’s about to flip, he’s totally unfazed?]
[Sister, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head! That must be it!]
[Hehe, I guessed it was some kind of variety show~ From now on, call me The Prophet!]
[What? A prophet? You’re getting knifed!]
…
At 2 p.m., after a long, bumpy ride, the off-road vehicles finally arrived at their destination and came to a stop.
A staff member opened the door. “Trainees, please get out of the vehicle.”
The nine of them got out one after another. Aside from Shen Xiu, the other eight looked visibly unwell from the nonstop jolting along the way.
Thankfully, none of them actually threw up.
They paused to catch their breath, then noticed Shen Xiu’s expression was totally normal. Not only that, after stepping out of the car, he even took a deep breath of the fresh air, his entire body radiating ease and comfort—from the tips of his hair to the soles of his feet. He looked like someone casually strolling through their own backyard.
The eight of them: “……”
They’d been in the training camp together for so long, and while they all knew Shen Xiu had good physical endurance, none of them had realized he might’ve secretly gone through some kind of special training.
That bumpy ride had just about scrambled their brains, and Shen Xiu… didn’t even flinch!
In a certain sense, Shen Xiu was an absolute monster.
[It’s confirmed—Boss Xiu has been through special training! I recorded the whole thing—this is evidence!]
[His physical fitness is on another level.]
Looking around, all they could see were trees, thick underbrush, and dense weeds.
“Everyone, goodbye.” While they were still surveying the area, the production staff hurried back into the vehicle, gave a quick farewell, and drove off in a flash.
Everyone: “???”
Staring after the production car that sped off without hesitation, leaving behind nothing but exhaust fumes, the group was at a loss for words.
Xiang Yueting: “Wait—are they just leaving us here? There’s nothing but trees and grass around! What kind of show are we even supposed to film out here?”
Jiang Yanxi said angrily, “I think the production team is messing with us—look around, everything here is evidence!”
Shang Yu sighed, “They probably sped off so fast because they were afraid if they went any slower, we’d hijack the car.”
Zhuang Yi added, “If Heaven gave me another chance, I swear—even if I had to cling to the roof—I’d make sure the production team took me with them!”
After joking around for a bit, the group fell silent as they looked at the lush, dense forest surrounding them.
Jokes aside… was the production team really going to leave them out here to fend for themselves?!
Once the cars drove off, they also took the production’s livestream setup with them. While on the road, staff updated the name of the livestream room to match the new variety show the nine trainees were now participating in.
Before the viewers had a chance to protest and demand the name of the new show, they saw the title change and immediately flooded into the new show’s livestream room.
[Let me tell you, I’ve got my 40-meter-long sword already—ah, don’t get me wrong! I just brought it to peel an apple for the production team.]
[Aaaah, it is the variety show I guessed! I’m making my grand entrance!!!]
[Huh? Why is this livestream so dark? I can’t see anything.]
[@Crossing the Primeval Forest, is your stream broken or something?]
[Huh? Why are so many newcomers flooding in? Holy—viewer count just jumped by 300,000 in three minutes?! I’m stunned.]
[Shocking, yes, but let me explain for our new friends: we’re lying in wait for the new guests—no tech issues here, all part of the plan.]
…
Among the group, Shen Xiu and Shang Yu remained the calmest. Everyone instinctively looked toward the two of them.
Jiang Yanxi hesitantly asked, “So right now, we’re…”
Before he could finish his sentence, a rustling sound came from not far away. The nine of them instinctively turned toward the source of the noise.
In the middle of a dense patch of weeds, a clump of grass… stood up.
The trainees who witnessed this: “!!!”
Having experienced similar situations in the mountains before, Shen Xiu was momentarily stunned—he thought they had encountered a wild animal. In that instant, he felt as though he had been transported back to those days climbing mountains with his mother. His eyes narrowed instinctively, and he raised his arm to shield the person behind him.
The moment his hand went up, Shen Xiu got a clearer look at the figure in the weeds—and locked eyes with a pair of human eyes. The person even winked at him.
Shen Xiu: “……”
That scared the life out of him—but thankfully, it was a false alarm!
Given the figure’s size, there was no way it was a wild animal. And more importantly, he’d seen human eyes. Shen Xiu’s tensed nerves finally relaxed, and he lowered his hand.
As he did, recalling the production team’s odd behavior, he realized what this might be. The other person was still watching him.
Feeling that it was awkward to just stand there silently, Shen Xiu glanced at the grass shifting on the ground and managed to squeeze out one word from his throat: “Hello.”
All of this had happened in the span of just thirty seconds—from the moment Shen Xiu sensed something off, narrowed his eyes, and raised his arm to shield his teammates, to the moment he lowered it again and greeted the figure.
[Holy crap, that scared the life out of me!]
[Who else feels that moment Shen Xiu shielded his teammates in a potential moment of danger was so touching?!]
[Isn’t this the same Shen Xiu who trended for being a total menace recently? That one move just made me a fan.]
[The way Shen Xiu reacted—he looked just like a leopard ready to strike. Is this the professional instinct of Assassin Xiu?!]
The “grass” that had stood up removed the grass hat and grass mask covering their face and head right in front of the nine of them, revealing a face everyone recognized. The person first gave Shen Xiu a long look, then turned to the other now-fully-awake guests.
The man spoke up: “Hello everyone, welcome to Crossing the Primeval Forest. Let me introduce myself.”
He patted his chest. “My name is Qiao Pengyi.”
The eight others glanced at Shen Xiu’s hand, which had just fallen back to his side, eyes knowing. Hearing Qiao Pengyi’s voice helped them shake off the lingering shock, and they all began to speak up:
“Teacher Qiao, we all know you.”
“Hello, Teacher Qiao, I didn’t expect to see you here!”
“I’m so happy to meet you—I love your stand-up shows the most!”
…
Qiao Pengyi was a famous host who had hosted many galas before retiring. Most people who watched New Year’s Eve shows would recognize him.
Shen Xiu, upon hearing his teammates’ voices: “…”
Crap. He was the only one who didn’t recognize the guy. He was dragging the team down.
Next to him, Xuan Yushu, who was still disguised, sighed and got up from the ground. He also took off the camouflage from his face and head and gave Qiao Pengyi a look. “This is your fault. All the disguise work our coaches did for us was wasted. We were supposed to surprise them—well now, the ‘surprise’ is ruined.”
[…More like a shock, lol]
[Is he a mischievous old man or what, haha]
[He’s only in his thirties or forties—not that old]
Qiao Pengyi scratched his head and sheepishly apologized to his friend. “Sorry, sorry. Guess I’m getting older—less patient.”
After seeing Qiao Pengyi, the trainees were stunned once again when they recognized Xuan Yushu, and immediately launched into another wave of excited admiration:
“Director Xuan!!!”
“Director Xuan, I love your movies!”
“Director Xuan, I grew up watching your films!”
Xuan Yushu chuckled and said jokingly, “Ahem, you don’t have to tell me that last part.”
The moment Shen Xiu saw Xuan Yushu, the overwhelming surprise nearly stopped his heart. His mind went completely blank, and he didn’t even have time to join in with the others’ praise.
Director Xuan—that Director Xuan—his idol!
Shen Xiu was flustered. There was so much he wanted to say, but facing his idol made him extra cautious. To put it bluntly—he was so nervous he didn’t even dare to speak freely. In the end, he managed to squeeze out just one stiff sentence: “Hello, Director Xuan.”
Right after he said it, Shen Xiu didn’t need anyone else to tell him—he already knew how dry and awkward it sounded.
At that moment, Shen Xiu recalled how his teammates had just expressed their admiration so warmly and naturally, and he silently berated himself for being useless.
Every bit of Shen Xiu’s earlier behavior had been noticed by Xuan Yushu, who inwardly appreciated his quiet sincerity. Smiling, Xuan Yushu replied, “Hello to you too.”
Then, turning to the other young participants, he beamed and added, “Hello to all of you—I like you guys, too.”
Shen Xiu: “!”
Doesn’t matter—he’s included in that “like,” too. So happy!
Qiao Pengyi, the team leader of Group A, suddenly seemed to remember something and smacked his forehead. “Ah! I almost forgot!”
As he spoke, Qiao Pengyi bent down and helped someone up from the ground. As he pushed the person forward, he said, “Xiao Duan, ever since you arrived, you’ve been curious about who the other nine guests on this show are, right?”
“Well, now they’re here—you’re about to find out.”
Xuan Yushu, the team leader for Group B, glanced at his friend in exasperation and helplessly reminded him, “Right now, Xiao Duan has headphones on and a blindfold over his eyes. He can’t hear a word you’re saying.”
Realizing his mistake, Qiao Pengyi chuckled sheepishly. “Ah, I really am getting old. Don’t mind me, okay?”
With that, Qiao Pengyi began untying the blindfold from Duan Mingfei’s eyes.
